Ivy atwood putnam



IVY AT WOOD `'PU-TNAM, OFMEXIGO, MAINE.

Letters Patent No. 77,212, datedAprz'Z 28, 1868; antedcteol April 18, 1868.

Inrnovnn CHUTE son' nrvnn-navrearror.

` .tite tlgetnlr nicht tu inline Etnias @that mit meting pnt uf tlg sume.

ro ALL WHoM Ir MAY eONeERN:

Be it known that I, IVY TWOOD PUTNAM, of Mexico, in the cou'nty of Oxford, and State of Maine, have invented a new and improved Beat-Chute for River-Navigation, of which the following isa full, clear, and exa-etl description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a boat-chute and dam, and FigureQ is a plan'view of the same.

The object of my invention is toA render rivers, at points where the water is apt to be shallow, at all times (except when closed by ice) accessible to the transportation of at-bottomcdrboats, both up and down stream;

i 0n the uplands of our western rivers in particular, and where canal and. railroad-communication is out of reach, are waste treasures of minerals, coals, wood, cereals, and other products, which are prevented from reaching a convenient market at seasonable time, on account of the low state of water not permitting boats to passthe shea-ls, sand-bars, or'rocky places in thoserivers. The 'river-beds are .of unequal depth, which renders the navigation upon them, combined with the frequentehanges in thc'height of the water, extremely dicult,

and frequently almost impossible, stopping for a time all water-transportation. At one part of the river there `in the manner substantially as specified. v

may be a depth of thirty to forty feet; then, again, for a short intervening space, over rocks or Shoals, the depth may b c only six to eighteen inches.

My invention consists in constructing a chute or canal, of suiiicieut width to admit of the passage of only one boat, the sides of the said chute being enclosed to a height of from eighteen to twenty-four inches, or to' any height required, by a dam, which may be built across the river on the upper end of the chute. p

In all shallow places, or where irregularities inthe dow of water occui,I the river generally widens to a greater or less extent.. The darn which I propose to build being not over twenty-four inches in height, contracts the water-space, and compels the water te pass through the. chute as the only outlet.' This will happen at ordinary and extraordinary low water. 4The water, when ordinarily low, should reach. the top of the damn and when extraordinarily low; will just reach the bed of' the chute; and flow down the incline.

The chute consists of a structure of stone or timber, (worthless wood, such as cotton-wood, may be used to advantage laid at an inclination down the river, and embedded in the surface of the shoals, die.; the sides of the chute being of the same'relative height as thedam, 'and having its ends bevelleid ed', so as to facilitate the entrance of the boat both above -and below. Rollers made of iron or wood may be arranged across the chute, and partially under the surface of Athe same, for the purpose of facilitating the passage of the boat up or down the chute. The rollers are set sniliciently far apart to-allow the'boat te rest o n two or more sets.

When going up stream, a capstan or windlass, worked by hand, horse, or steam-power, may be applied to pull theboat up the chute. 'At cach end ot the chute, buoys may bc anchored, to guide the boat to the chute, in case the water is deep enough to cover the same. i y

Referring te the drawings, a-a represents the substructure oil the chute, formcdof legs or planks of wood, arranged in a position inclining down the stream, and secured any suitable manner. b b represent rollers, inserted at intervals in the same, and extending sniliciently above the surface of the chute to sustain a beat passing over the ,same- These rollers may he made of wood or iron. At each side of the chute are built walls, c c, of suilieient height to contain enough water to float the boat. The said walls may be made of wood, stone, or othermatcrial. At the upper end of each Waller side is a dam, nl, extending at any desired angle from the same, and serving to direct the water to the chute.. ff are buoys, anchored near the upper and lower. ends of' thechute, to indicate the position ofthe same when covered by the water. A c is the boat, in the act of passing over the chute.

The chute may be built in thc middle, or at either side of the bed ofthe river.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The construction of la chute for the passage of boats over the shallow or rocky parts or rapids of a river,

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' I. Arwoon PUTNAM.A

Witnesses:

J. H. Avans,

M. S. G. WIL'Dn. 

